Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1887-03-27
HOW "BEN HUR" WAS WRITTEN
Gen. Lew Wallace Confesses Its De-
scription was Based on Books.

Gen, Lew Wallace ConfesseS Its De-
scription was Based on Books.
Gen, Lew Wallace is man OF fine
presence, with military bearing from
which the usual stiffness Of the drill has
never been able to oDliterate the natural
grace. His hair is very slightly gray,
and a lock of it falls carelessly on mas
siye forehead. which shelves slightly over
ewes large, black, and seeming to see intn
tie VerV centre of things. HIS pointed
beard and heavy mustache are peculiarly
adapted to his style OF face, with its
clear-cut nose, half Greclan ana snan
Roman. W. "A Crohutt talked with him
in Washington the other day, and tells
in the Post, all about 1t. In reply to
question as to whether he had named his
new book yet, he replied:
"Of course not. The book will name
itself when completed. w give the name
to the book, not the book to the name
One would never think OF naming oaby
before its birth, for IL he gave 1t boy'S
name it might be born girl, you Know
and vice versa"
"speaking of your book" said Croffutt,
chad you eve. visited the Holy Land be-
fore you wrote Ben HurY"
"No; never saw Syria till after tie
book was completed"
"Why. how could you write such book
Win nObuluR lOI a ShOONA
think you would make endless N s.
takes"
II did have foundation, and pretty
sure one, too" the General replied d. "A
variety OF books, a good map, knowledge
Of mathematics, and vivid Imagination
were tolerably good stock in trade, TO my
thinking. How could L make MIS-
takesW
But do not see how you could draw
such realistic pictures of country You
knew nothing about" persisted the news
man.
~ did know something about it," said
he. II knew dU about IL. l knew far
more concerning it, in fact, than If had
been there 10 see for myself. l made the
travellers travel for we, which is far less
fatlguIng than to travel for ones self.
read books OF travel, manners, and cus-
toms. | studied the history OF the coun-
try and the bible history of Christ, also
the geography of the country. l mad
large map before me, hanging always on
the wall where could see it, upon which
| could measure distances, settle relative
positions and compute the difference in
time. With o little knowledge of as.
tronomy thrown in there was no possi-
bility of mistake.
''Then talked with friends who had
been there; got them to tell me about the
birds, their plumage and their songs;
dDOub luG uOWcto anu LlG05s ohA ACbOlibc
the gardens and residences. They told
me Of the Syrian sky, It's color and
changes; the rain and dew; the climate
aud its effect. You see / was pretty
thoroughly posted.
"Such kn0 wledge is more to be depend.
ed on, too, than an actual visit. IL had
visited the country to gather data |
would have relied largely on my memory,
and am not above the human habit of for
getting. Then, too l would have seen SO
much In a limited time that there would
be danger of the whole becoming just
confused tumble, conglomeration OF
facts hard TO separate when L came to
use them.
GAS it was, had the books and map
before me, and when | forgot any thing (
could refresh my memory without leaving
my chair from store of knowledge all
assorted and systemauZed. Or | could
make an evening call on some of my
friends, and If on had forgotten the thing
L wanted to know, another was sure to.
remember it. 'Then, after the whole
was completed, went to Syria to view
the original OF my picture and make any
changes | found necessary, and there
were none to make"
'The pretty story is not true, then,''
SAID the correspondent, "that you began
the book TO prove the truth of infdelity,
If you will allow the paradox, and that
your researches for that purpose were the
means of converting youp'
"NO, no; certainly not" said he, with
considerable warmth. THAT story en-
anated from the fertile brain of some cor.
respondent who was hard up for an item,
and can forgive him il he got paid for
the item and used the money judiciou5ly;
but l am egaged most ndustrIOusly AT
present lodging the correspondents"